Two major gun distributors, who are also YouTubers found to have sold firearms and cartridges to anti-government protesters, were arrested in Chiang Mai and Nakhon Sawan, according to the Police Cyber Taskforce (PCT).
Watchapol Thamwai, 21, was arrested at a condominium in Muang district of Chiang Mai and Thatpol Sanpan, 28, was captured in Takli district of Nakhon Sawan. It was not clear when they were apprehended.
Both men have been charged with repairing, modifying, importing, possessing or selling firearms or cartridges with the intent to sell without permission, said Pol Gen Damrongsak Kittiprapas, deputy national police chief and director of the PCT.
Police seized from the suspects a large number of firearms including illegal ones. Checks of Mr Thatpol's phone records showed the sales of firearms to anti-government protesters previously involved in clashes with riot police around the Din Daeng intersection in Bangkok.
Mr Thatpol allegedly confessed to having sold illegal firearms to members of his group through his Line chat application. There are about 160 members in the group.
According to the PCT, Mr Thatpol also runs a YouTube channel with about 4,000 followers. He was accused of selling the firearms for about five months.
Meanwhile, Mr Watchapol, who also has a YouTube channel, allegedly admitted to having traded in firearms which he sold at a profit of between 3,000-4,000 baht apiece, according to police. He has been in the trade for about two to three years during which he has sold more than 500 firearms that were then sent to buyers by mail.
He told police some anti-government protesters had bought gun barrels and cartridges from him a couple of times.
Mr Watchapol allegedly said he had taught people how to assemble and modify guns for sale via online platforms.
Mr Thatpol was taken to Muang Chon Buri police in Chon Buri, where a warrant for his arrest was issued, for questioning whereas Mr Watchapol was escorted back to Chiang Mai for investigation.
Pol Gen Damrongsak said the illegal firearms, distributed through online contacts, were linked to many criminal cases.